RWE windfarm a giant green step forward

SET eight miles off the picturesque north Wales coast, the Gwynt y Môr windfarm will become one of the world's biggest eco-friendly powerhouses.

The 250 turbines, along with three neighbouring windfarms, are expected to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 680,000 homes.

The energy farm is expected to begin producing power from about 2014 and help galvanise Britain's position as a world leader in renewable energy.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said the 750MW development, by RWE npower Renewables Ltd, is also a crucial cog in the country's efforts to clean up the environment.

"The UK must clean up its energy supply to fight the damaging effects of climate change and more wind power will help us do this," he said.

"The UK is leading the world in offshore wind, and the developments off the coast of north Wales will help keep us front runners."

The development was granted approval by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in December 2008, despite concerns from the Welsh Assembly about its visual impact.

John Lawson-Reay, chairman of Save Our Scenery, who campaigned against the windfarm, said he was "shattered" by the scheme's go-ahead.

The decision to give the windfarm the go-ahead was branded a "scandal" by campaigners who argued the massive Gwynt y Môr scheme would spoil the scenic coastline and hammer tourism upon which towns and villages rely on.

But after satisfying a raft of environmental and logistical concerns, the plan was approved with RWE saying offshore construction work could begin in 2011 with final commissioning expected in 2014.

The windfarm will provide energy for 40 per cent of the homes in Wales and prevent the release of over 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, the company said.

As with all offshore wind farms in the UK, the seabed at Gwynt y Môr is owned by the Crown Estates, which has agreed to lease the land to RWE.

Once the 540ft tall development is completed, it will be the world's second biggest offshore windfarm after the London Array, off the Kent coast.

In January, the UK announced successful bids had been made for nine new offshore windfarm zone licences.

A consortium including npower and Norway's Statkraft won the licence for the biggest zone, at Dogger Bank, which could produce nine gigawatts of energy.

Turbines in the nine zones could generate up to 32 gigawatts of power, a quarter of the UK's electricity needs. The winners have signed exclusive agreements with the Crown Estate, which owns the UK seabed.

The moves comes as the UK aims to meet the EU target of creating 7,500 offshore turbines by 2020.

Turn to the Telegraph Leader on page 18.